A Dark, Decadent Sherry Bomb for the Holidays
There’s something undeniably magical about the holiday season—crackling fireplaces, indulgent desserts, and those rich, comforting drams that feel like a wool blanket in whisky form. This year, one bottle has been earning more than its fair share of space on my tasting table: the Edradour 10 Small Batch PX. If you’re a fan of deep, dessert-leaning sherry bombs, this one may just leap straight into your winter rotation.
Before diving into the glass, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the components behind this whisky—the distillery, the cask influence, and why the combination fits so beautifully with colder weather.
Edradour – Scotland’s Little Workhorse of Big Flavour
Tucked away in the Perthshire hills, Edradour has long held the title of one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries—and with that size comes character. The distillery prides itself on traditional production methods, small batches, and a style that leans unapologetically into bold, expressive flavours. Even their bourbon-matured whiskies tend to show a rich, almost old-school maltiness, but give Edradour a sherry cask and suddenly it transforms into something luxuriously dense and sticky.
While many sherry-forward whiskies chase elegance, Edradour often chases impact. And nowhere is that clearer than in their PX expressions.
Pedro Ximénez – The Sweetest Sherry with the Darkest Soul
Pedro Ximénez (PX) is the thickest, richest, sweetest style of sherry on the map—made from sun-dried grapes and known for its near-syrupy texture. Think dried figs soaked in treacle, dark caramel, and raisins stewed for hours. When used as a finishing or full-term maturation cask in whisky, it injects those same decadent flavours into the spirit.
PX-matured drams are beloved during the holidays for good reason:
They taste like dessert, cosy evenings, and Christmas markets distilled into a glass. Cinnamon spice, dried fruits, warming sweetness—they’re practically engineered for December.
Edradour 10 PX – The Holiday Sherry Bomb We Deserve
So how does this 10-year-old, 46% ABV, non-chill-filtered, naturally coloured Edradour rival stand up against other sherry heavyweights? In short: it’s a dense, dark, velvety dram that leans fully into the PX identity without becoming cloying. Let’s break it down.
Tasting Notes – Edradour 10 Small Batch PX
Stats
- Age: 10 years old
- ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
- Distillery: Edradour
- Chill-filtered: No
- Natural Colour: Yes
Nose
From the first swirl, the nose is thick, heavy, and unmistakably PX-driven. Waves of vanilla bean and honeyed sweetness lead the charge, but quickly make room for an array of deep, sticky-fruit aromas:
dried figs, medjool dates, and that rosewater-kissed Turkish delight note that PX fans will instantly recognise.
There’s an aromatic spice cabinet quality as well—cardamom, cinnamon, and a little aniseed—giving the whisky warmth and complexity. Underneath all the sweetness, a grounding layer of old leather and aged maple syrup adds maturity and depth. It’s the kind of nose that makes you immediately want to sink into an armchair and let the winter night run its course.
Palate
The palate opens with an explosion of dark, brooding flavours. Edradour’s naturally weighty spirit works beautifully with PX, resulting in a velvety, almost chewy mouthfeel. Expect dark chocolate, molasses, and liquorice root, followed by a subtle prickle of red pepper heat that keeps everything lively instead of one-note.
Despite the dram’s depth, fruit isn’t lost: Luxardo cherries, Turkish delight, and hints of stewed plums provide a bright contrast to the darker flavours. A ribbon of dark caramel ties everything together with the indulgence of a holiday dessert spread.
Finish
The finish is long, warming, and pleasantly dry, with dark tannins that stay well clear of bitterness. Instead, they form a sort of cocoa-dust texture that lingers on the tongue. The final impression is one of richness:
barrel-aged maple syrup, salted liquorice, and a nostalgic cherry cobbler note that begs for another sip.
This is a finish to savour slowly, ideally in front of something crackling and warm.
Food Pairing
For a dessert pairing, cherry cobbler might as well have been made with this whisky in mind. The cherry and pastry notes echo the PX sweetness perfectly. Peach Melba or any stone-fruit dessert also plays well against the whisky’s spice and richness.
For something savoury, a wedge of aged Gouda is a fantastic contrast—caramel sweetness, crunchy crystals, and enough sharpness to cut through the whisky’s weight.
Verdict – A Must-Have Sherry Bomb for Winter Whisky Fans
Strengths
The Edradour 10 PX is an affordable, flavour-packed sherry bomb that fires on all cylinders for those who love dark, dessert-forward drams. The depth of chocolate, spice, fruit, and syrupy richness is intensely satisfying, especially during the colder months. It’s bold, indulgent, and frankly one of the cosiest drams you can pour this holiday season.
Weaknesses
PX casks are dominant, and here they definitely overshadow Edradour’s underlying malty profile. If you’re looking for a balanced whisky or want to appreciate the distillery’s spirit in its purest form, their bourbon cask bottlings are the better showcase.
And of course, if sherry bombs aren’t your thing, this is not the bottle that will convert you.
Final Thoughts
If you adore whiskies drenched in dark fruit, spice, chocolate, and all the decadence PX can offer, the Edradour 10 Small Batch PX deserves a spot on your shelf—especially during the holidays. It delivers maximum flavour, seasonal charm, and exceptional value in a category where prices have only been rising.
A perfect fireside dram, an excellent dessert companion, and a stellar example of how sherry casks—when handled by a distillery like Edradour—can turn a winter evening into something a little more memorable.
